1975–76 Atlanta Flames season

1975–76 Atlanta Flames
Division3rd Patrick
Conference3rd Campbell
1975–76 record35–33–12
Home record19–14–7
Road record16–19–5
Goals for262
Goals against237
Team information
General managerCliff Fletcher
CoachFred Creighton
CaptainPat Quinn
Alternate captainsNone
ArenaOmni Coliseum
Team leaders
GoalsCurt Bennett (34)
AssistsTom Lysiak (51)
PointsTom Lysiak (82)
Penalty minutesPat Quinn (134)
WinsDan Bouchard (19)
Goals against averageDan Bouchard (2.54)

The 1975–76 Atlanta Flames season was the fourth season for the franchise. This season would mark a turning point for the franchise. After making the playoffs just once in their first three seasons, the Flames would miss the playoffs only once between 1976 and 1996 (that coming in 1991–92).

Regular season

Final standings

Patrick Division
GP W L T GF GA Pts
Philadelphia Flyers 80 51 13 16 348 209 118
New York Islanders 80 42 21 17 297 190 101
80 35 33 12 262 237 82
New York Rangers 80 29 42 9 262 333 67

[1]

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Record vs. opponents

Patrick Division record vs. opponents


Schedule and results

1975–76 regular season[3][4]
October
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Attendance
1 L October 8, 1975 3–4 California Golden Seals (1975–76) 0–1–0 11,298
2 L October 10, 1975 1–2 New York Rangers (1975–76) 0–2–0 11,886
3 L October 15, 1975 1–3 @ New York Rangers (1975–76) 0–3–0 17,500
4 L October 17, 1975 0–2 New York Islanders (1975–76) 0–4–0 11,259
5 W October 18, 1975 5–3 @ Kansas City Scouts (1975–76) 1–4–0 7,036
6 T October 22, 1975 1–1 St. Louis Blues (1975–76) 1–4–1 10,086
7 W October 24, 1975 7–1 Los Angeles Kings (1975–76) 2–4–1 10,943
8 L October 25, 1975 3–7 @ St. Louis Blues (1975–76) 2–5–1 17,314
9 W October 28, 1975 3–2 @ Vancouver Canucks (1975–76) 3–5–1 15,570
10 W October 31, 1975 2–0 @ California Golden Seals (1975–76) 4–5–1 4,793
November
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Attendance
11 L November 1, 1975 1–3 @ Los Angeles Kings (1975–76) 4–6–1 13,051
12 L November 5, 1975 1–3 Montreal Canadiens (1975–76) 4–7–1 11,120
13 W November 7, 1975 3–2 Minnesota North Stars (1975–76) 5–7–1 10,780
14 L November 9, 1975 3–6 @ Detroit Red Wings (1975–76) 5–8–1 9,321
15 W November 12, 1975 2–1 Kansas City Scouts (1975–76) 6–8–1 9,989
16 W November 14, 1975 4–1 @ Washington Capitals (1975–76) 7–8–1 9,206
17 L November 15, 1975 3–5 Boston Bruins (1975–76) 7–9–1 14,838
18 T November 18, 1975 2–2 Vancouver Canucks (1975–76) 7–9–2 10,490
19 L November 21, 1975 1–4 Pittsburgh Penguins (1975–76) 7–10–2 11,160
20 W November 22, 1975 6–3 @ Minnesota North Stars (1975–76) 8–10–2 9,463
21 L November 25, 1975 0–4 Montreal Canadiens (1975–76) 8–11–2 10,825
22 L November 26, 1975 3–7 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1975–76) 8–12–2 17,077
23 W November 28, 1975 6–3 Toronto Maple Leafs (1975–76) 9–12–2 12,664
24 W November 30, 1975 4–1 @ California Golden Seals (1975–76) 10–12–2 4,429
December
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Attendance
25 L December 2, 1975 3–5 @ Los Angeles Kings (1975–76) 10–13–2 8,575
26 W December 5, 1975 6–2 @ Vancouver Canucks (1975–76) 11–13–2 15,570
27 W December 7, 1975 2–0 @ Chicago Black Hawks (1975–76) 12–13–2 N/A
28 W December 9, 1975 7–1 Washington Capitals (1975–76) 13–13–2 9,877
29 T December 12, 1975 3–3 New York Islanders (1975–76) 13–13–3 11,396
30 W December 14, 1975 7–4 @ Buffalo Sabres (1975–76) 14–13–3 16,433
31 W December 16, 1975 3–1 Kansas City Scouts (1975–76) 15–13–3 9,834
32 L December 17, 1975 2–3 @ Minnesota North Stars (1975–76) 15–14–3 8,106
33 W December 19, 1975 8–3 New York Rangers (1975–76) 16–14–3 11,673
34 W December 21, 1975 2–1 @ Boston Bruins (1975–76) 17–14–3 13,678
35 T December 23, 1975 2–2 Philadelphia Flyers (1975–76) 17–14–4 14,484
36 W December 26, 1975 4–3 Pittsburgh Penguins (1975–76) 18–14–4 13,120
37 L December 27, 1975 2–3 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1975–76) 18–15–4 10,301
38 L December 29, 1975 2–6 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1975–76) 18–16–4 16,485
39 W December 31, 1975 8–1 @ New York Rangers (1975–76) 19–16–4 17,500
January
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Attendance
40 W January 2, 1976 7–1 St. Louis Blues (1975–76) 20–16–4 13,465
41 W January 3, 1976 6–4 @ Kansas City Scouts (1975–76) 21–16–4 9,139
42 W January 6, 1976 4–3 Detroit Red Wings (1975–76) 22–16–4 10,614
43 T January 9, 1976 1–1 Chicago Black Hawks (1975–76) 22–16–5 14,806
44 W January 11, 1976 5–2 Vancouver Canucks (1975–76) 23–16–5 11,467
45 L January 13, 1976 0–3 Los Angeles Kings (1975–76) 23–17–5 10,814
46 L January 15, 1976 3–5 St. Louis Blues (1975–76) 23–18–5 10,302
47 T January 17, 1976 2–2 @ New York Islanders (1975–76) 23–18–6 14,865
48 L January 18, 1976 2–4 @ Montreal Canadiens (1975–76) 23–19–6 15,459
49 L January 22, 1976 2–7 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1975–76) 23–20–6 17,077
50 T January 23, 1976 3–3 Buffalo Sabres (1975–76) 23–20–7 15,141
51 W January 27, 1976 8–4 Philadelphia Flyers (1975–76) 24–20–7 14,118
52 L January 28, 1976 3–7 @ Chicago Black Hawks (1975–76) 24–21–7 N/A
53 L January 30, 1976 2–4 Boston Bruins (1975–76) 24–22–7 15,141
February
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Attendance
54 L February 1, 1976 3–5 @ Boston Bruins (1975–76) 24–23–7 14,574
55 T February 3, 1976 2–2 @ New York Islanders (1975–76) 24–23–8 14,865
56 W February 4, 1976 4–1 California Golden Seals (1975–76) 25–23–8 10,169
57 L February 6, 1976 1–2 Chicago Black Hawks (1975–76) 25–24–8 12,921
58 W February 11, 1976 5–2 Toronto Maple Leafs (1975–76) 26–24–8 N/A
59 L February 13, 1976 2–3 Buffalo Sabres (1975–76) 26–25–8 13,756
60 L February 14, 1976 3–5 @ St. Louis Blues (1975–76) 26–26–8 17,973
61 L February 19, 1976 1–3 @ Buffalo Sabres (1975–76) 26–27–8 16,433
62 W February 20, 1976 3–1 @ Kansas City Scouts (1975–76) 27–27–8 6,842
63 L February 23, 1976 1–7 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1975–76) 27–28–8 16,461
64 T February 25, 1976 3–3 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1975–76) 27–28–9 9,127
65 L February 28, 1976 2–3 @ Montreal Canadiens (1975–76) 27–29–9 17,008
March
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Attendance
66 L March 3, 1976 2–3 Detroit Red Wings (1975–76) 27–30–9 10,854
67 W March 5, 1976 8–3 New York Rangers (1975–76) 28–30–9 13,323
68 T March 7, 1976 6–6 @ New York Rangers (1975–76) 28–30–10 17,500
69 W March 9, 1976 9–0 Boston Bruins (1975–76) 29–30–10 11,269
70 W March 10, 1976 4–1 @ Minnesota North Stars (1975–76) 30–30–10 8,280
71 W March 12, 1976 4–1 Washington Capitals (1975–76) 31–30–10 12,154
72 L March 14, 1976 1–6 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1975–76) 31–31–10 17,077
73 L March 16, 1976 2–4 Philadelphia Flyers (1975–76) 31–32–10 15,184
74 T March 19, 1976 2–2 Vancouver Canucks (1975–76) 31–32–11 12,930
75 W March 24, 1976 7–2 @ Chicago Black Hawks (1975–76) 32–32–11 N/A
76 L March 27, 1976 0–8 @ Detroit Red Wings (1975–76) 32–33–11 11,540
77 W March 28, 1976 3–1 @ Washington Capitals (1975–76) 33–33–11 9,563
April
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Attendance
78 T April 1, 1976 1–1 @ New York Islanders (1975–76) 33–33–12 14,865
79 W April 2, 1976 4–2 Minnesota North Stars (1975–76) 34–33–12 11,876
80 W April 4, 1976 5–2 New York Islanders (1975–76) 35–33–12 11,798

Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs

Atlanta qualified for the post-season for the second time in franchise history, and would face the Los Angeles Kings in a best-of-three preliminary round series. The Kings finished with a 38–33–9 record, earning 85 points and second place in the Norris Division. They finished the season with three more points than the Flames.

The series opened at The Forum in Inglewood, California, and the Kings scored in the first minute of play, as Tom Williams beat goaltender Dan Bouchard to give Los Angeles a 1–0 lead. The Kings doubled their lead in the second period when Bob Nevin scored. In the third period, the Flames cut the Kings lead to 2–1 after a goal by Barry Gibbs, however, that's as close as Atlanta would get, as Los Angeles held on for the 2–1 victory.

The second game was played at the Omni Coliseum, as the Flames needed a win to force a third and deciding game. Both goaltenders played great games, however, the Kings Bob Berry scored with 1:44 remaining in the third period, as Los Angeles held on to beat the Flames 1–0. Kings goaltender Rogie Vachon made 27 saves for the shutout.

1976 Stanley Cup playoffs[3]
Preliminary Round vs. Los Angeles Kings – Kings win 2–0
Game Date Visitor Score Home Series Attendance
1 April 6 Atlanta Flames 1–2 Los Angeles Kings 0–1 12,023
2 April 8 Los Angeles Kings 1–0 Atlanta Flames 0–2 10,450

Legend:   Win   Loss

Player statistics

Skaters

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

    Regular season   Playoffs
Player # GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
Tom Lysiak 12 80 31 51 82 60 2 0 0 0 2
Curt Bennett 5 80 34 31 65 61 2 0 0 0 4
Hilliard Graves 17 80 19 30 49 16 2 0 0 0 0
Claude St. Sauveur 11 79 24 24 48 23 2 0 0 0 0
Eric Vail 25 60 16 31 47 34 2 0 0 0 0
Bill Flett 9 78 23 17 40 30 2 0 0 0 0
Dave Kryskow 20/8 79 15 25 40 65 2 0 0 0 2
Rey Comeau 18 79 17 22 39 42 – – – – –
Randy Manery 7 80 7 32 39 42 2 0 0 0 0
Larry Romanchych 21 67 16 19 35 8 2 0 0 0 0
Barry Gibbs 2 76 8 21 29 92 2 1 0 1 2
Bill Clement† 10 31 13 14 27 29 2 0 1 1 0
Ed Kea 19 78 8 19 27 101 2 0 0 0 7
Gerry Meehan‡ 10 48 7 20 27 8 – – – – –
Tim Ecclestone 14 69 6 21 27 30 – – – – –
Larry Carriere 23 75 4 15 19 96 2 0 0 0 2
Jean Lemieux‡ 6 33 4 9 13 10 – – – – –
Pat Quinn 3 80 2 11 13 134 2 0 1 1 2
Ken Houston 24/6 38 5 6 11 11 2 0 0 0 0
Bob Leiter 16 26 2 3 5 4 – – – – –
Guy Chouinard 16 4 0 2 2 2 2 0 0 0 0
Richard Mulhern 4 12 1 0 1 4 – – – – –
Richard Lemieux† 20 1 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0
Cam Botting 24 2 0 1 1 0 – – – – –
Phil Myre 1 37 0 1 1 0 – – – – –
Dan Bouchard 30 47 0 1 1 10 2
Buster Harvey‡ 8 1 0 0 0 0 – – – – –
Noel Price 4 3 0 0 0 2 – – – – –
Pat Ribble 23 3 0 0 0 0 – – – – –
Willi Plett 22 4 0 0 0 0 – – – – –
Rick Bowness 15 5 0 0 0 0 – – – – –

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Atlanta. Stats reflect time with the Flames only.
‡Traded mid-season

Goaltending

Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average

    Regular season   Playoffs
Player # GP TOI W L T GA SO GAA GP TOI W L GA SO GAA
Dan Bouchard 30 47 2671 19 17 8 113 2 2.54 2 120 0 2 3 0 1.50
Phil Myre 1 37 2129 16 16 4 123 1 3.47 – – – – – – –

Transactions

The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 1975–76 season.

Trades

June 5, 1975 To Atlanta Flames ----Dave Kryskow To Detroit Red Wings ----Bryan Hextall Jr.
September 9, 1975 To Atlanta Flames ----Curt Ridley To New York Rangers ----Jerry Byers
September 23, 1975 To Atlanta Flames ----Rights to Claude St. Sauveur To California Golden Seals ----Cash
October 1, 1975 To Atlanta Flames ----Larry Carriere
1st round pick in 1976
(traded to Washington Capitals;
Capitals selected Greg Carroll)
Cash 		To Buffalo Sabres ----Jacques Richard
October 13, 1975 To Atlanta Flames ----Richard Lemieux
Future considerations 		To Kansas City Scouts ----Buster Harvey
January 20, 1976 To Atlanta Flames ----1st round pick in 1976 (Dave Shand) To Vancouver Canucks ----Curt Ridley
January 22, 1976 To Atlanta Flames ----Bill Clement To Washington Capitals ----Jean Lemieux
Gerry Meehan
Sabres' 1st round pick in 1976 (Greg Carroll)

Free agents

Player Former team
Player New team

Waivers

Player Former team
RW Bill Flett Toronto Maple Leafs

Draft picks

See also: 1975 NHL amateur draft
Round Pick Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team
1 8. Richard Mulhern (D)  Canada Sherbrooke Beavers (QMJHL)
2 26. Rick Bowness (RW)  Canada Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge (QMJHL)
4 62. Dale Ross (LW)  Canada Ottawa 67s (OHA)
5 80. Willi Plett (RW)  Paraguay St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA)
6 98. Paul Heaver (D)  United Kingdom Oshawa Generals (OHA)
7 116. Dale McMullin (LW)  Canada Brandon Wheat Kings (WCHL)
8 134. Rick Piche (D)  Canada Brandon Wheat Kings (WCHL)
9 150. Nick Sanza (G)  Canada Sherbrooke Beavers (QMJHL)
10 167. Brian O'Connell (G)  Canada Saint Louis University (NCAA)
11 181. Joe Augustine (D)  United States Austin Mavericks (MidJHL)
12 192. Torbjorn Nilsson (RW)  Sweden Skelleftea AIK (Grundserien)
13 216. Gary Gill (LW)  Canada Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHA)

References

  1. ^ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 151. ISBN 9781894801225.
  2. ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "1975-76 Atlanta Flames Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
  4. ^ 1975-76 Atlanta Flames Results and Schedule hockeydb.com Retrieved November 17, 2022
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